am i overheating

i have a new system that i built. it has a pm800 system board made by wintergreen systems, p4/3.2g Intel processor with Intels heatsink and fan that came with the system, 460w enermax psu, 200g w.d. hard drive, 256mb ATI 9600xt graphics card and other bells and whistles. i also have 2 internal case fans.

temp in the bios records cputemp = 63 degrees c and system temp = 44 degrees c.

the board side of the machine feels warm but not overly warm nothing that by touch would alarm one.

are those temps to high and if so what more can i do to cool it down.

 

Hi gghartman,

I don't know, but have some thoughts. Sounds like you got a retail processor; if so, the package insert should have some info about temperature limits. From my reading, I think you're safe although you are running hotter than I'd like to see, or I am - my athlon 2600+ is at 38 and my box is at 12. Recommend you download MBM5 to watch the temp while you work.

Of course you're running much faster, but your case temp is quite high so consider another case fan, if that's an option, to be on the safe side.

 

this is strange i've now got 30 and 13. which is pretty close to what you say your machine is at. i am using cpucool to get this information. these programs like mbm can be a little confusing to setup.

i have 2 case fans but i was wondering if there is something else i can do to keep this machine cool. another blower of some sort or maybe a different heatsink and fan. whats your opinion ???

 

Sounds like you're OK now. would just keep an eye on the temps for a while. Definitely against changing the Intel recommended sink and fan.

 

i will take your advice. thanks.

 

38° C. (100.4 F.) I can believe, but 12° C. (53.6 F.) gives me pause. You must be running with your coat on since it would take a very cold room to get the cabinet temperatute down that low.

I don't put a lot of faith in software temperature readings. They are possibly OK for comparative readings, so establish a baseline when your computer is running trouble free and compare to it occasionally to see if things are staying in shape.

I use Everest but I don't rely on it except as noted. I also like the rest of the things it does.

Everest shows my temps at:

Motherboard 38 °C (100 °F)
CPU 32 °C (90 °F)

The internal cabinet free air temperature is normally at 85° F. with a room ambient of 75° F. The latter two temps I measure with a common spirit thermometer that I can trust.

This is a HP P4 loafing along at 1.6 Ghz. with only two fans, one in the power supply that blows outward at the rear and the other draws air in at the rear and blows it, via a plastic duct, directly upon the Processor. Consequently, the processor runs cooler than the MOBO, which I like. There is actually a 3rd fan, the tiny unit on the Processor sink, but it isn't any more than a fail safe backup for the induction fan mentioned.

 

actually you are right. i have the window open right next to the machine and this is northern wisconsin and its a little nippy out tonight. explains why components have cooled off.

everest - i will search for that.

 

okay surfer where did you get everest. searched and cant find it.

 

Everest (replaces Aida32)

 

thanks surfer.

okay so now my temp readings are board = 77 c, cpu = 23 c, h.d. = 36 c.

so now what do you think ???

 

surferdude2,
Good thinking!
My CPU temp in everest is the same as in mbm5, but the box temp is 23C = 72F which is the ambient temp in the room. MBM5 lists that as 12C, obviously off but of little importance.
gghartman,
The mobo can't be hotter than the CPU. either readings are reversed or connectors are reversed on the mobo. Which?

 

both everest and cpucool read the same. what do you mean connectors are reversed on the mobo ??? only connector from the cpu to the board is the 3 pin connector. so am now confused by what you mean.

went inside the bios and there it says system is 46 and cpu is 65.

 

I'm speaking of your post stating "board = 77 c, cpu = 23 c "
Your last everest readings are fine.

Connectors for case fan and cpu fan are similar and can be reversed on mobo, giving reversed readings. Need to check diagram of mobo in manual and identify the connections. If you're not using mobo connection for case fan, reading for case (mobo) is meaningless.

There's no problem. Just kidding

 

for my case fans i am using the ide type connector for both not the board connector.

i had the cpu connector hocked up before i installed the case fans. cpu connectors are always correct me if i am wrong usually at the top right of the cpu itself.

so 65 for cpu and 46 for system is okay ???

actually when feeling the board side of the case it feels more like the psu is warm. its a 460w enermax which has a good rep. and pricey.

 

Beautiful.

 

never had a psu this powerful before usually have 350's. is it normal that a psu with 460w could feel slightly warm.

 

Have never seen one installed, but not surprised!

 

when i brought the psu it was a toss up between antec and enermax. when reading the reviews on neweggs web site the antec in the same wattage had a few more negative comments than did the enermax. so enermax is what i got.

you being in minneapolis and all know our cold weather is here so maybe i will just keep my office window open a bit to keep it running on the cool side. will just put on an extra pair of long johns. i used to live in blaine myself for 5 years actually.

have a good night am going to shut down and watch some news. you heard about the hunting tragedy up here. i am very close to where that happened.

again thanks to both sparrow and surfer.

 

GN.

You can check out this link and bone up on cpu/mobo temps later.

http://www.overclockers.com/tips507/

The bottom line is, you just can't trust the cheap thermocouples you'll find in most cpu and boards. Comparative readings are all they are good for.

 

Good article!

I think that's the way we use the info - looking at the general range the temp is in at a point in time. Another reason to choose quality mobos.